An exploratory model of the relationships between cancer-related trauma outcomes on quality of life in non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors

J Psychosoc Oncol. 2011;29(1):19-34. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2011.534022.

Abstract

Given that more than one third of some cohorts of cancer survivors exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, this study examines how trauma outcomes might relate to quality of life (QOL). Eight hundred thirty survivors of adult lymphoma were assessed for PTSD, post-traumatic growth (PTG) and QOL. Structural equation modeling revealed that QOL was best explained by the model in which stressors (e.g., co-morbidities) were mediated by PTSD and PTG. Trauma outcomes mediated the relationship between specific stressors and QOL. These findings support using PTSD and PTG as a diagnostic framework in understanding symptomatology in survivors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / epidemiology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / psychology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Survivors / psychology*